Scheelite with Quartz, Dolomite

specimen number:
1655498

location:
Yaogangxian Mine, Chenzhou, Hunan, China

description:
A cluster of glassy gemmy quartz crystals are hosting many small pseudo-octahedral lustrous crystals of scheelite measuring to 0.4 cm in size. Dolomite is present as well. There are no points of attachment, this is in good condition all around.

The Yaogangxian Mine is located in the Yizhang County of Hunan Province, China, and represents one of the most prolific and mineralogically diverse tungsten deposits in the world. Geologically, it is a high-temperature hydrothermal vein system associated with a Mesozoic-aged granitic intrusion that penetrated through Devonian and Carboniferous sedimentary rocks. The mineralization occurred approximately 150 to 190 million years ago during the Yanshanian Orogeny, as metal-rich magmatic fluids cooled and deposited a vast array of minerals within a complex network of quartz veins. Historically, the mine began large-scale operations in the early 20th century, specifically around 1914, and has since become a cornerstone of China's global dominance in tungsten production. For mineral collectors, Yaogangxian is legendary for its world-class specimens of scheelite, ferberite, wolframite, and exceptionally clear, multi-colored fluorite. The site is also famous for producing aesthetic associations of sharp, metallic arsenopyrite, brilliant "needle" quartz, and rare phosphates like apatite and monazite. The sheer variety of species and the exceptional quality of the crystals, often found in large, open pockets, make Yaogangxian a premier locality that has redefined the standards for Chinese mineralogy on the international stage.

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